GDPs working hours published
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- Published: Monday, 22 September 2014 07:47
- Written by News Editor
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Figures released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) show that GDPs worked on average 37-38 hours a week, with some variation across the UK. Principal dentists work longer than associates in all three countries, but the ratio of NHS to private work varied in England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland
England & Wales
- Overall, NHS dentists (full and part-time) reported working an average of 36.9 hours per week in dentistry, of which 26.3 hours (71.4 per cent) were devoted to NHS dental services. The remainder (28.6 per cent) was accounted for by private dentistry.
- On average, Providing-Performer dentists worked more weekly hours (41.0 hours) than Performer Only dentists, at 35.7 hours. Providing-Performers reported spending 61.2 per cent of their time on NHS dentistry (25.1 weekly NHS hours); for Performer Only dentists this measure was 74.7 per cent (26.7 weekly NHS hours).
- Overall, dentists reported that their time spent on dentistry was split by 78.2 per cent on clinical work and 21.8 per cent on non-clinical work (including administrative and management duties). Providing-Performer dentists reported spending 72.1 per cent of their time on clinical work, whereas for Performer Only dentists this proportion was 80.2 per cent.
- The increases reported in average total and NHS weekly hours by Providing-Performer and Performer Only dentists between 2006/07 and 2011/12 tailed-off in 2012/13 and 2013/14. There were further decreases in the proportion of time spent on clinical work for both dental groups as well as average weeks of annual leave.
Northern Ireland
- Overall, GDS dentists (full and part-time) reported working an average of 37.7 hours per week in dentistry, of which 28.2 hours (74.9 per cent) were devoted to Health Service dental services. The remainder (25.1 per cent) was accounted for by private dentistry.
- On average, Principal Dentists worked more weekly hours (42.9 hours) than Associate Dentists, at 33.8 hours. Principals reported spending 71.6 per cent of their time on Health Service dentistry (30.7 Health Service weekly hours); for Associates this measure was 78.1 per cent (26.4 Health Service weekly hours).
- Overall, dentists reported that their time spent on dentistry was split by 76.9 per cent on clinical work and 23.1 per cent on non-clinical work (which include administrative and management duties). Principal Dentists reported spending 69.1 per cent of their time on clinical work, whereas for Associate Dentists this proportion was 84.3 per cent.
- The increases reported in average total and Health Service weekly hours by Principal and Associate dentists between 2008-09 and 2011-12 tailed-off in 2012-13 and 2013-14. There were further decreases in the proportion of time spent on clinical work for both dental groups.
Scotland
- Overall, GDS dentists (full and part-time) reported working an average of 38.3 hours per week in dentistry, of which 29.6 hours (77.3 per cent) were devoted to NHS dental services. The remainder, 22.7 per cent, was accounted for by private dentistry.
- On average, Principal Dentists worked more weekly hours (42.8 hours) than Associate Dentists (35.7 hours). Principals reported spending 70.7 per cent of their time on NHS dentistry (30.3 NHS weekly hours); for Associates this measure was 82.0 per cent (29.2 NHS weekly hours).
- Overall, dentists reported that their time spent on dentistry was split into 79.7 per cent on clinical work and 20.3 per cent on non-clinical work (which include administrative and management duties). Principal Dentists reported spending 74.0 per cent of their time on clinical work, whereas for Associate Dentists this proportion was 83.8 per cent.
- Between 2008-09 and 2013-14 there was a gradual increase in the average weekly hours of Principal and Associate dentists. However, there were further decreases in the proportion of time spent on clinical work for both dental groups.
The full report can be found at http://www.hscic.gov.uk/catalogue/PUB14929
Dentists working hours - at least a day a week on
Dear All,The figure that jumps out at myself is that whilst everyone is working harder and longer hours, now at least a day a week is spent upon Admin by highly skilled clinicians, with this being even higher in other regions !!!
As we all know, the promise of less Red Tape made at the last Election, probably doubled it and we have to ask, does it REALLY benefit the public to tie-up highly skilled clinicians in 20-25% of their working hours, in red-tape instead of directly treating and helping people ???
Looks like there is a lack of joined-up thinking centrally to me - we've known about the Clinical idiocy and experimentation for the NHS dental contract in England, but now that foolishness is ALSO making Paperwork more important than Patient Care and it's getting worse, it seems :(
Wouldn't it be nice to have a centralised Target to reduce Admin. for Dentists by 50% in 5 years, instead of increasing it to the detriment of patients?
Yours observationally ,
Tony.
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